As of 2007, Reid Bryson is an Emeritus Professor of the Department of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, which helped originally found. He has been identified by the British Institute of Geographers as:

the most frequently cited climatologist

the 5th most cited physical geographer

the 11th in list of all geographers.

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Military Service

While in the military, where Reid Bryson rose to the rank of major in the Air Weather Service of the U.S. Army Air Corps, he helped prepare the aviation weather forecast that predicted discovery of the jet stream by a group of B-29s flying to and from Tokyo. His prediction was proved to be correct despite disapproval by his superior. Bryson himself flew into typhoons in 1944, and prepared the forecast for the homeward flight of the Enola Gay.

Accomplishments

Bryson often focused on how climate relates to human ecology, particularly in Asia. His work led to the introduction of pen-feeding of goats in Rajasthan, now widespread. Bryson has also contributed to the understanding of:

the Indian monsoon

airstream analysis

quantitative, objective methods of reconstructing past climates.

Bryson has been innovative in developing computer models of climate. He is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American Meteorological Society. He is also a charter member of the World Council for the Biosphere.